Machine for offsetting the end coils of springs



D. D. MYERS 2,527,325 MACHINE FOR OFFSETTING THE END cons 0F SPRINGS Oct. 24, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1946 INVENTOR. Don DM A T TORNE Y Oct. 24, 1950 D. D. MYERS MACHINE FOR OFFSETTYING THE END cons 0F SPRINGS Filed Oct. 19, 1946 7 Sheets$heet 2 A TTORNEY Oct. 24, 1950 D. D. ms 2,527,325

MACHINE FOR OFFSETTING THE END COILS 0F SPRINGS Filed Oct. 19, 1946 2 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 5* Don D. Myers Oct. 24, 1950 D. D. MYERS 2,527,325

MACHINE FOR OFFSETTING THE END COILS 0F SPRINGS Filed Oct. 19, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. v Dan D. Myers 1 48 -0 h M/ Oct. 24, 1950 D. D. MYERS- MACHINE FOR OFFSETTING THE END COILS 0F SPRINGS Filed Oct. 19, 1946 7 SheeQS-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Don D Myers ATTORNEY D. D. MYERS 12,527,325

MACHINE FOR OFFSETTING THE END cons 0F SPRINGS Oct. 24, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 19, 1946 INVENTOR. DonDMyers AT TORNE) D. D. MYERS 2,527,325

MACHINE FOR OFFSETTVING THE END cons 0F SPRINGS- Oct. 24, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 19, 1946 IN V EN TOR. D012 D. Myers BY A TTORNEY a. i u

WEE

t gs A Patented Oct. 24, 1950 MACHINE FOR OFFSETTING THE END GbILS OF SPRINGS Don D. Myers, Hempstead, N. Y., assignor to Kay Manufacturing Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application October 19, 1946, Serial No. 704,443

12 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for making spiral and the like springs and particularly to that type designed to coil wire fed to the machine into a spring, totie or knot both end coils of the spring, to shape the end coils to'a predetermined form and to nest the formed springs.

The invention is an improvement upon the well known machine disclosed in the patent to John F. Gail, No. 1,851,540 for making spiral springs. The improvement is directed primarily to the means for shaping the end coils simultaneously, while largely retaining the main features of the aforesaid patent. Hence only as much of said features is shown and described herein as is necessary for understanding of the invention, reference being hereby. made to said patent which is intended to be incorporated herein for the detailed explanation and disclosure of the coiling, transferring and knotting mechanisms.

The present invention contemplates the provision of simple and dependable means for shaping the end coils of the springs to predetermined form immediately after the springs have been made and knotted and before they are nested and discharged from the machine, the form selected depending on the means used for connecting the springs and forming the spring unit of which the individual springs madeby the machine constitute parts.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a number of pairs of cooperating jaws adapted to have coil-shaping inserts removably mounted thereon for engaging selected parts of the end coils of a spring to shape the end coils as desired, comparatively simple means being provided to operate the jaws at the proper times. 7

The invention further contemplates the provision of a spring making machine not only for making the springs and if desired for 'knotting the end coils thereof, butalso embodying a station and mechanism at the station for so shaping the end coils that the springs may later be assembled in rows and interconnected by suitable helicals, clips or the like engaged with the end coils in a manner which is well known.

The invention further contemplates the provision of hydraulically operated end coil shaping jaws whereby selected parts of the end coils of the springs including the knotted parts thereof may be simultaneously shaped in the machine at a given station without interfering with the operation of the springv forming and knotting mechanisms. The various objects of the invention'will be clear from'the description which follows and from the drawings, in which Fig. l is a more or less diagrammatic front elevational view of the machine showing the stations at which and indicating the mechanisms by which the various operations are performed.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine with parts broken away, showing particularly the arrangement of the hydraulic jaw' operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the jaw operating mechanism and of the means for depressing the operating rods for the spring transfer gripe pers.

spring made by the machine.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the spring showing a typical form of the deformed or shaped end c'oil thereof. 7

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary foreshortened front,

elevational view of the jaws for shaping the end coils and of the transfer grippers showing the,

mechanism for reciprocating the grippers between stations. V

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view similar to Fig. 6 but on an enlarged scale of the jaws and of the supporting means therefor showing the.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the jaws and the hydraulic operating mechanism therefor taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view partly in section of the pump controlling the hydraulic mech-- anism and 0f the operating mechanism for the pump.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic I jaw operating system.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevational view of one pair of end coil shaping jaws showing a portion of the operating cam therefor in section.

In the practical embodiment of the invention shown herein by way of example, the machine of the, aforesaid Gailpatent has been modified in' the following main respects; first, by aligning the two knotters axially of the spring operated on thereby so that both of the end coils of the spring made by the coiler are knotted simultaneously at a single knotting station; second, by eliminating the sizing station of said patent and substituting end coil shaping mechanism at said station;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a typical spiral.

third, by transferring the finished spring to a chute by means of a spring transfer gripper; and fourth, by providing an 'arm responsive to reciprocation of the grippers for nesting the springs in the chute.

Accordingly, the machine which will now be described briefly before the detailed description,

comprises a coiler 29 to which wire is fed in the:

usual manner by the wire feed rolls 2|, 22, the coiler being of a well known type and being diagrammatically shown at the coiling station of Figs. 1 and 2. After the spring, as, 2.3.-has been coiled and severed from the feed wire, itistransferred by a suitable spring gripper as 24 to the knotting station, where the end coils 25 and.v

26 of the spring are engaged by the knotters 21 and 28 respectively and the free ends.of the end coils wrapped or tied to form knots as 29. The knotters; are-ofanywell known type .such .-as

are disclosed' for example .ir1,.the. Gail Patents. Nos.1,851,540 or 1,681,728.. While the knots are being tied, the gripper. 24 returns tothe ceiling.

are also formed, as well as the flattened side edge 34. opposite the knot.

The two mechanisms and '36 for. shapingthezendcoils are substantial duplicates of each other-and include a pair of-pivoted jaws each carrying a removable die insert cooperating 'with a, suitably shaped insert in the' other jaw, the jaws being operated by a cam ring through hydraulic reciprocating mechanism. The pump 31' (Figs. 2; 10 and 11) supplies fluid under pres sure tothe hydraulic mechanism. After the end coils have. beenshaped, the gripper 3'9 having returned to the knottingstation, the gripper 38grips the spring and'on the advanceof' the grippers, deposits the spring inithe chute 39 (Figs. L and 8') the hingednesting 'rod 49 at the same time advancing the spring deposited in the chute during the previous movemerit'ofithe gripper 38; into the nesting position shown by the nest 4| (Fig. 8) ofsprings.

In the detailed description of the machine which follows, theoperating mechanisms for the main-instrumentalities will be briefly described and the structure and operation of the end: coil forming mechanismwill' besetzforth'in full. It

being understood that the wirez 42 adyanced bythe rollersi2fl 21a is coiled into a spring by the coiler 20', it"need'merelybesaidthat the-coiler is operatively connected:v to the main shaft 43 ofv the. machine by suitable. intermediate connections; not shown, which actuate the ooiler at the proper time to "make and tosever the spring. The gripper 24 which transfersthe spring: to the knotting-station is. operatively connected: tothe other grippers 39 and 38 by the reciprocating carriage. l9, which is supported and; g-llidedby-thefixed bars l8. To reciprocate.

the carriage and; the grippers as a unit, the chain 44. ('Eigs.xl and=6-) is securedtoa projection as 46 on the carriage as by means of suit- 4 able adjustable rods as each fastened at one end to the chain and at the other end secured to the projection 46. The chain 44 passes about suitable rollers I! pivotally supported by a fixed part of the machine, and is oscillated first in one direction and then in theiother direction by the cam 48 (Fig. 6) on the main shaft 43, through the levers 49 and 5|], one end 5| of the chain being secured to the outer end of the lever 49- and the other end 52 being secured to the outer end of the lever 59, directly if desired, or asshown through the intermediary links 54 and 53. A suitable spring as 55 secured to the chain 'andthe lever- 59 tensions the chain and forms a yieldable connection between the chain andthe lever topermit overthrow of the cam, the spring yielding under excessive movement of the lever. The cam is so shaped that when that end .of. one..lever which followsv the cam is atthelhigh p'art'iof the cam, the. corresponding end'of the other. lever. isat the low part of the cam whereby when one lever tensions the chain,

5, the other releases the'chain'. Rotation of the main shaft 43 rotates the cam 48 causing oscillation of the leversf49and' 50 and reciprocation of the chain 44 and'the carriage [9, thus moving.

the respective grippers'24, 39 and (it as a unit between the pair of'adjacent stations at which each gripper operates.

Each of the grippers includes a housing 56 suitably secured to the'carriage I9 and slidably' supporting a gripper-jaw operating rod 51 for vertical reciprocation therein, the rod being urged upwardly by the'spring- 58 within thehousing. Rack teeth 59"at= the lower end por tion of the rod 51 engage the gear segments 60 atthe upper endsiof the gripper jaws 6!, each.

of which jaws ispivotall'y supported by the housingj56 as at 6'2'. Arranged at the upper ends of the rods 51 of the *variousgrippers is the-horizo'ntallydisposed' bar63' operative to depress the rods51 simultaneously'and'"thereby to-open the jaws of the grippers and-"to release the springs held thereby". Vertical movement only is imparted to the bar 63" against which the upper ends of the rods or'rollers 64 thereon are'pressed by the springs 58. Such movement is given the bar 63 by means of the oscillating arm 65 (Figs; 2 and 3) projecting from the bar and-fixed to the shaft 65', which shaft is suitably supported by afixed bracket .61' and'is oscillated by the arm 68 thereon through the cam rod 69; The spring 10 pulls the rod 69 into engagement with the cam H on the main shaft 43. At the time the car riage' is at rest, the gripper'jaws are closed upon the: spring to r be transferred, by the gripper spring 58. which moves the rod 5'! upwardly into contact with the bar 63 which is then in its uppermost position; After the carriage l9 moved to transfer thefgripp-ers and the springs engaged "thereby to the next succeeding station and at the .end' ofthe movement of the carriage, the cam 'H...becomes:operative to depress the bar .and thero ds 5'! thereby to open the gripperv jaws andto releasethe springs. The gripper jaws remain open during the return movement. of the grippersv and. carriage, where after the cam H releases the rod 69, permitting the spring 10. to raise 'thebar 63. intoits uppermost. position and to permit the gripper jaws to close, the operation being then repeated.

The. springmade by the coiler. is thus transferred'bxthe gripper 2.4. to the knotting, station 5 known type, no'description nor detailed illustration thereof is deemed necessary. It might be said that the knotters wrap the free end of each end'coil of the spring 23 about an adjacent coil in the usual manner and that the knotters 21 and 28 are axially aligned with each other and with the axis of the spring operated upon (Fig. 2), whereby both end coils are knotted at the same time. Preferably, the knots arearranged at the extreme left of the springas viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 to permit easy nesting of the finished springs. It will be understood that to make springs with free end coils, that is without tying knots on the end coils, the knotting mechanism and the knotting station as well as the gripper 39 may be omitted or rendered inoperative with--" out affecting the operation of'the end coil form'-' ing mechanism. From the knotting station, the spring is transferred by the gripper 39 to the station at which the end coils are shaped. The end coil forming mechanisms are axially aligned with each other and with the axis of the spring. J

23 at the forming station. Said mechanisms being substantially identical, a description of one will sumce for both.

In the forms of the end coils 25 and26 shown herein as exemplary in Figs. 5 and 7, the original- 1y circular end coils produced by the coiler are outwardly offset at two opposite points as at 32, 33, flattened at one point as 34 and indented at the knot 29. Hence four pairs of forming jaws are provided for shaping each end coil, the jaws I2, I3 forming the offset 32, the similar jaws I4, I5 forming the offset 33, the jaws I6, 11 forming the flat side '34 and the jaws I8, I9 forming the indent 3|. To enable the jaws to operate upon springs of different sizes and to produce end coils of different shapes, each of the jaws is provided with a removable forming die of therequiredsize and shape cooperating with a'suitable remov able die in the opposing jaw;

The various pairs of jaws are shown as circumferentially spaced apart 90 around the-jaw I holder 89 (Figs. 7 and 9) eachpair of jaws being pivotally mounted on a pivot as 8| fixed in thejaw holder. As best seen in Fig. 12, a transverse groove 82 is'made in the die holding end of each jaw, in which groove is removably secured as by means of a suitable screw or the like, a die 83 of the required shape to cooperate with the die of the cooperatin jaw and to form a selected part of the end coil to the desired shape. The end coil is held in place at the end coil forming station for the forming operation by suitable ad j ustable stops as 84 arranged between adjacent pairs of jaws and secured to thejaw holder 89 as by the screws 85 pa'ssing'through slots 86 in the'stops. At its inner end, a projection 81 on the stop is provided with an angular outer surface 88 designed and shaped to engage or'contact with the end coil prior to and during the forming operation at substantially a single point iii as 89 thereby to avoid distortion of the coil while ing jaws all beingopen duringsuch advance of;

tension 93.

is tapered downwardly and inwardly at one angle the jaw'holder, the end coil passes between the sets of cooperating jaws ready for the forming operation. Closing of the jaws presses the se-- lected portions of the end coil between the dies 83 and shapes the coil.

Normally, the respective jaws of each pair of jaws are urged toward the open positions thereof Iby suitable compression springs such as the spring 99 arranged between and engagin the.

inner jaws 11 and I9, the similar spring 9| between the inner jaws I3 and I5, and the compression springs 92 between each of the outer jaws I2, 14, I6 and I8 and the adjacent portion of the jawholder 89 (Fig. 9). is elongated beyond its pivot 8| to provide the bifurcated extension as 93 on the outer jaw and the extension 94 on the inner jaw, the extension 94 being adapted to move into and out of the space between the branches of the bifurcated ex- The inner edge of the extension 93 for part of its length as 96 beginning at the end of the extension and at a smaller angle for another part of its length as 91, the adjacent ends :of the tapered lengths 96 and 91 beingjoined by a relatively short length 98 arranged at a greater angle than the length 96 and constituting an obstruction or bump between the lengths 96 and 91 for the purpose soon to-appear. The outer edge of theextension 94 is similarly shaped to .provide. tapered lengths and a bump between the lengths. In the open positionsof the jaws, the lengths 96 of the inner and outer jaws overlap as best seen in Fig. 9 thereby providing a relatively small wedge-shaped space as 99 between the cooperating jaws, the space being;

closed atone end by the bumps 98.

Passing into and moving through the space 99 and betweenthe extensions. 93 and 94 of the jaws is one'of'the segments of the segmental cam,

ring I99, which is .provided with four such segments, one for each pair. of jaws. reciprocated longitudinally or in the direction ofits axis and that of the jaw holder to force the cam segments between the jaw extensions.

and thereby to spread them apart and to close the jaws tightly'upon the end coil after the jaw holder has been advanced to permit the stops 84 to engage the end coil of the spring 23 delivered to the jaws. On retraction of the cam ring, thesegments thereof are carried back past the bumps 98, permitting the jaws to open under the pressure of the springs 99, 9| and 92. Since the length 9'! of the jaw-extension is at a smaller anglethan the bump 98, the final parts of the closing movement and the initial part of the opening movement of the jaws are relatively slow as compared to the remainder of such movements, the bump 98 serving to permit acceleration of the jaw movements at the proper time.

' Means are provided for preventing retraction of the jaw holder 89 before the jawsopen and for reciprocating the. cam ring I99. Said means comprises theplunger I9I secured to the piston shaft 992 and secured to the cam ring by the Self adjustment of the screw bolt I93 (Fig. 9). cam ring to the pressure thereon whereby the segments thereof may enter between and properly spread the jaw extensions, is attained by the engagement of the spherical projection'IM of the cam ring with the corresponding spherical depression I95 of the plunger. The under side of the head of the bolt I93 is similarly spherical to engage a second spherical depression I96 on the cam ring. .By this arrangement, the cam ring Each of the jaws i Said ring is swarm and-Tithe plunger:'reciproc-ateiaszaiuniiiiwhilepew of-" fi'xed t'o the-plunger and the other end' portion thereof slidably inserted into the hole II I' of the" jaw holder. The plunger is slidably fitted into the shanks of'the screws. I], the headofieach of which-may move intoandi out of theenlarged hole 'l l 3 in the fian'gea'n'd the shankxof whichis" secured to the jaw holder. The flange H0 is' spaced sufiiciently away fromthe adjacent end of the jaw holder 'to'ipermitrelative longitudinar motion therebetween the flange and the jaw holder bothbeing fitted into and slidable longitudinally. in the sleeve- I I6 which is-fixed to the housing I I1 as -b y th'e screws I I4'. The jaw holder'issuitablykeyed to the sleeve' to prevent relative rotati'on' thereof, and the cam ring is 'alsov prevented: from moving excessively relatively to the plunger by the pin I'I 8 fixed to" the plunger and entering loosely into the-jaw holder;

It will now be s'een that'on reciprocation of the shaft I02", the plunger and? the cam ring: are: re

cipr'ocatedas a unitgbut advance of the jaw hold er relatively to theplunger. byithe springs" I09 be--- fore a spring 23 'is delivered to: the forming: station, is preventedby :the' engagement of-the heads ofth'e screws I01" with the bottomof the hole H3 in the plunger flange into: which each head operates. 1 When the-plunger is advanced; the springs I09 become: operative to advance the jaw-holder by r'eason of the'fl'ange' III! leaving. the: screw lie'ads-" and freeing them of the bottoms of the holes H3. Such advancing movement of the jaw holder is limited and-halted by contact of the jaw holder with the discontinuous end wall I I9 of the housing II! as. shown by the-position ofvthe-jaw' holder in Fig. 9; said: end wall having suitable o'p'en'ir'i'gs therein for'the' passage therethrough of thevarious jaiwsand of the stops 84p Itwill also be seen that the springs I09 exert-suchadequateadvancing pressure upon the jaw holder as to hold it it? contact with the wall I I9: until the plunger has been' 'retracted sufficiently to carry the flange I IIlthe're'of' into'conta'ct with the heads of the screws: 10'! whereafteri retractive movement of the plunger against the screws causes retraction of the jaw holder but only after the cam ring has been retracted by the plunger and the forming jaws'have' opened. However, prior t'othe' retraction of the jaw holder,.the spring gripper 38 closed upon the spring 23 at theforming station, whereby the spring is supported for transfer out of the machine after it has been released by the stops 84.

"Preferably, though not necessarily, hydraulicallyoperated means'are provided for reciprocating" the piston shaft I02. At that end of said shaft remote from the'plunger, is secured the piston I reciprocating in the cylinder IZI. Fluid under pressure is forced into the cylinder alterriatel y through the-pipes In and I23 at opposite ends of the cylinder, causing the pistonrto' move:

firstzin one direction: and-then in the:opposite:direction througha predetermined stroke; The: fluidaon 'theclowpressureside-of the piston re'-' turns to the double actingpump ill-(Figs. 10and 11). comprisingthapiston I'25operatin in'the" cylinder: I24." To "reciprocate the iston I25, its: rod I2I' isisecured-to one end of the connecting rodiI28; the otherend of which is secured to the crank l'29 ofxany; suitable type onthe main shaft 43 of'ithe'machine;

When' the pump "piston I25vmoves toward the left asvi'ewed in-Fig. 1-1; the fluid is driven outzof-i the: pump cylinder. on. one side: of the piston throughthapipesi I30 and I22 into'thewcylinders Ill and: behindthe'pistons I20, thereby advanc ingfsaid= pistonsan'd the piston shafts I02 to actuate:the end coil formingja'ws As the high pressure-fiuidenters behind the pistons I20 thevlow pressure fluid .on' the other sideof the pistons is drawn into the pump 31 through" the -pipesl23 and: I3I. When the pump: piston: I25 moves inthe: opposite direction or toward the right, the movement: of the fluid is reversed, forcingtfluid through the pipes I3I and. I-23' into the cylinders I2I in front of the pistons I20,. while at the same timefluid behind" the pistons is forced out of the cylinders I-2I through the pipesIZZand I30'backinto the pump cylinder- I24, the operation being-- repeated oneach reciprocation of the carriage l9, it being understood that movement of the plunger toclosethe-jaws requires greater pressure than opposite movement. v

Suitable-automatic relief valves as.-I32'and I33" ofany wellknown type: arearranged respectively. in the pipes--I34 an'd I35; which-communicate with the pipes I30 and I3I:'. One-valve as I32- serves: to relieve excessive pressure in the system hypermitti'ng' transfer of fluid between the pipes I30- and Iii-I- aswhen thepump continues tooperate in thedirection-to advance the plunger- I 01 after v the formin jaw have: been completely closed.- Similarly,- the valve I33 is adjusted to relieve-excesslve pressure-insthesystem bypermitting fluid to pass between: the pipes- I3I and I30-when the piston" I25-continuesto move toward the: right after the plunger IOI has-beenv retracted enough. to.- carryv its: flange I Ifl'intolcontact with theplate I39 atthe-endof the sleeveI I6 Y While hydraulic mechanism-foroperating the plunger: Iii] I has hereinbeenshowrrand described. asthe -most 1 efiicient, simple and economical device for the purposeaof reciprocating theplunger inthe manner 'required, itwilltbe:understoodthat mechanicalmeansmay be substitutedtherefor if desirable or found convenient,

Afterfthe-end-coils-of the spring 23-have been formed to the desired shape, the gripper 3'8 grips the springzandon release thereof by the jaw.holder, the gripper transfers the spring out of the machine tothe chute 39 where the finished spring, is released (Figs.- 1 and- 8-). The chute is provided with aconstricted entrance portion I31 which slightly compresses-the'spring, saidspring expanding-as it is-carr-ied -past the steps or shoulders I38= in the side walls-of the chute; The spring thus-deposited-.cannot move back intowthechute-entrance I31 because of the obstructing action of the shoulders I38. Simple: means are provided to further-advancethe'spring along the chute into interlocking engagement with the springslpreviously deposited therein, thereby to nest thesprings'into aloosely compacted mass for. ease in handling and. storage.

Said advancingmeans comprises the rod; 40 pivoted atits upper'end as I4I to and depend:-

9 n rom a sui bracke ll? cu ed n. th h u i r.. t gri pe 8- Av d 1 1 m mber I43 on the; bracket and in the pathof the ro l m ts t e amo n of s i n ve 6 the rod in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig.- .8. When the gripper 38.moves from the end coil forming station; from the position shown in dash-dot lines in Fig, 8 to the full.line position thereoi shown, the-rod .40 engage the spring 23 previously deposited in the chute and 1 advances said spring. to the nest of .springs 4|,to nestjit with the other nested springs. At the same time, the gripper 38 replaces the spring thus nested w h. n 21 the etu e e t, e fgripper to the Prming station, the lower'endof the rod 40; engages the spring last deposited {in the chute as the upper end of the rod moves past the spring whereby the ,rodjs caused to swing c1ockwise,.during thereturn movementof; the

ripper, the shoulders I33 ;of the chute preventa ing the rod frpm pushing the spring back out o t ch ewh n theure ess ls to such an angle that it can'pass' the spring, further movement of the gripper carriesit past the .spring and the rod drops backagainstthe' stop I43 ready to advance the next spring into the nestin positionon the next movement or the gripper to repeat the operation.

The above description having included an explanation of the operation of the machine, no. "separate explanation of such operationis deemed necessary. It will be seen that I have provided relatively simple} efficient' and adjustable mechanism for shaping the end coils ofcoil springs,

whichmechanism is preferably incorporated into I and combined withamachine fo v making springs s ng .me e e v. tam-Wid a hw rv autoinaticmachine operating ,to make knot,

sh p d nest ri it ra dling or separate operations, I Q j:

While certain specific embodiments 'of "theinvention have herein been shown and described, various obvious changes may be made therein within the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. End coil shaping mechanism for a spring making machine comprising an axially reciprocating jaw holder, a plurality of pairs of circumferentially aligned cooperating jaws on the holder, a single pivot in the holder for each pair of jaws, each of the jaws being provided with an extension extending past the pivot, the adjacent edges of the extensions of a cooperating pair of jaws diverging in a direction away from the han- pivot, means for operating the jaws comprising a reciprocating cam rin provided with wedge shaped segments, one for each pair of jaws, and means for reciprocating the ring toward and from the jaw pivots to move the segments between the respective pairs of extensions, and a plurality of circumferentially aligned stops on the holder arranged to alternate with the pairs of jaws and movable with the holder as a unit into the interior of and into engagement with the end coil of a sprin to support the end coil at points between the jaws.

2. End coil shaping mechanism for a spring making machine comprising a reciprocatory radially grooved jaw holder, a series of jaws pivoted in circumferentially aligned pairs to and in the grooves of the holder, means on the holder and movable therewith inside, of the end coil of a spring to. ion said can between the jaws f apair of j I sand to hold said end coil and means ,toopenandjcloseeach pair' of jaws. j'

.3'. End; coil- "s'haping mechanism for a' spring king'machine comprising a jaw holder, a seriesof jaws pivoted in pairs to the holder, means on the holder'to position the end coil of a spring between the jaws of a pair of jaws and to hold said end fcoil, and means to open and close each pairiof-jaws comprising an extension on each jaw, the,;extensions of each pair of jaws divergvingto provide a wedge shaped space thereben of:

tween interrupted by opposed bumps on the extensions, springs normally maintaining the jaws fopen, wedgev shaped "means inserted into the space and jre'ciprocable-with the jaw holder as a un whenarranged atthe end portions of the extensionsbeyond'thebumps, and means to move the' wedge'shaped means axially of and relatively to th'eljaw ,,holder in one direction past the bumps to closethe jaws and in the opposite direction to release the jaws and thereby to permit the springs to open the jaws.' s 4;: End coil shaping means for a spring making machine'compsihg a pair of pivoted springpressed normallyi open jaws, means for reciprocati'rig. said-jaws;bodilyasa' unit toward and from the end coiloi a spring and'ine'ans for closing the ;j'aws,' the reciprocating means including a jaw holder, a plunge axially aligned with the holder, ,mea n sfto reciprocate the plunger, means carried by, the jaw ,holder. and slidably engaging the plungerto move the jaw holder in one direction after a predetermined amount of movementof the .plungehin said one direction, means carried by the plunger and slidably engaging the jaw holder to move the jaw holder in the opposite direction after a predetermined amount of movement of the plungerin the opposite direction and springs interposed Qbetween and urgin the plungerfand'fthejjaw holder apart; I A :5Q LEndQcoiI-shaping means for a spring mak- ,:ing frna'chinepor'nprising a pair oflpivoted Springpres'sed normally openjaws', means for reciprocating said jaws bodily as a unit toward and from the end coil of a spring and means for closing the jaws, the reciprocating means includin a jaw holder and ahydraulically operated reciprocating member having an operative connection to the jaw holder to reciprocate the holder through a lesser stroke than the stroke of the member.

6. End coil shaping means for a spring making machine comprisin a pair of jaws sprin pressed toward an open position, a pivot for the jaws, each of the jaws having an extension thereon extending past the pivot and diverging away from the extension of the other jaw, a holder carryin the pivot, a housing for the holder, means for reciprocating the holder in the housing comprising a reciprocating member, and an operative connection between the member and the holder effective to reciprocate the holder through a lesser stroke than that of the member, and wedging means reciprocated by the member through part of the stroke thereof with the holder as a unit and through another part of the stroke thereof relatively to the holder and entering between the extensions of the jaws to ithe end coil of a spring'toicar'ry the" stops into engagement with the coil and 'to arrange the rej'spective jaws of each 'pair of jaws .on opposite jsides'of the coil, said meansalsopperating to retract "the holder after operation' of 'the jaws, "nieansto close the jaws of eachpair of jaws upon thecbil and'thereby to s'hapethe coil; andmeans to op'en'the jaws'priorlto' theretra'ction of "the holder by the firstmentionedmeans.

9. In a machineforshaping theendc'oils of a coilspring, apair of similar opposeden'd coil shaping mechanisms each .arrang'ed "to "engage and distort one ofth'eendicoils andeach'comprising'an axially movable jaw holder, circumferen'tially aligned pairsof: pivoted jaws' carried by thejaw holder, end coilengaging means carried by the jawholder and movable axially therewith -asa unit into theinterior of the end coil "to support said-coil; and means movable as a unit with and axially of "thejaw holderto operate the coil engaging meansand"movable-relatively to" the jawholder'toclose the jaws upon theen'd coil.

10. End coil shaping'means comprising reciprocating stops" insertable' axially and-simultaneously into the end coils of a spring tohold the spring, a, plurality of pairsofcircumferentially 'spaced pivoted' jaws movable first axially to embrace circumferentially Spaced points of: each of the end cdnsana tiren movable-radiallyto*distortthe dolls 'tda predetermined -'shape an'd then retratible axially "to release the distorted coils; and means to 'ffe'ct' the 'm'o'vment "Of-the coil distorting means," the "coil distorting means comprising jcircumfer'entiallyspacedpairs-"of pivoted jaws'ea'ch having a groove thereinan'd a shaping 'die removably'secure'd' inthe-groove.

llf'The' machine-of "claim 1:0,-the 'means for moving the coil distorting means comprising an axially reciprocating 'cam fihg having segments "each-adapted to engageand to close a-{ pa'irof jaws.

12. End 1 coil shaping" mechanism '"for 'a I spring making machine L comprising 'a jaw holder, 'a series (if jaws pivoted in circumferentiallyaligned pair's to'the -holder, pivotson the holder for-the "jaws, a series of' circumferentially spaced stops "on the holdeneach of said stops being arranged "between andalternating with the pairs or jaws and being-adapted to *engageand to h'oldpart of the "end coil-of a spring, acommon -jaw closing element :"engaging =a11=or the pairs-of jaws-arid means-to move said element to operate the pairs of jaws simultaneously while theendcoil-is en- 'gage'd by' the stops.

' DON D. 'MY-ERS.

"REFERENCES CIT-ED The "following references areof recordlinfthe =file of this -patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

